Dataset of nocturnal moths in reforested and natural pine stands of the Sila Massif, South Italy

Abstract

The dataset we provide depicts the abundance and diversity of nocturnal Lepidoptera sampled using light traps within reforested and natural pine stands of the Sila Massif. Nocturnal Lepidoptera are widely recognised as a good ecological indicator of forest ecosystems, modifying their community composition as ecosystem changes. Sampled sites are located in the Sila National Park on the Sila Plateau, where the length of the flying season depends on the weather conditions, but usually is very short due to the cold winter temperatures. Samplings were carried out from May to June and from August to October 2022. Six sites were selected within reforested areas and four within natural and managed old forests. Moth data includes a total of 17,233 individuals belonging to 308 species, further data concern information on sampling events and sampling sites